Okinawa Cultural Tour: Awamori Distillery & Cave Expedition
Discover the only awamori cave in the world, delving into the rich culture of Okinawa’s favorite distilled alcohol during this 4-hour tour that won the Eat! Meet! Japan 2020 Silver Award.
Highlights
Rare tour of the world’s only awamori cave, where awamori is aged underground
Visit Matsufuji Distillery and have an awamori tasting
Taste tofuyo, a fermented tofu that is also aged in the limestone caves
Try regional Okinawan snack food
10 meals
+Experience Details
Hidden deep in a limestone cave in Kin Town, Okinawa, is an awamori cellar where shelves upon shelves of this traditional Japanese alcohol are aged. Each bottle with its own hand-written label or photo attached, the shelves resemble a library out of a fantasy novel, while the cave itself belongs in an Indiana Jones film.
But before descending into this cavern of awamori, you’ll first visit one of Okinawa’s 47 awamori distilleries, Matsufuji Distillery, which still uses the traditional small-batch method to make the island’s famous alcohol.
Previously used as an American military hangar, recently repurposed as a distillery.
Because of its uniqueness and rich history, it was featured on USA Today. But that’s not all that makes Matsufuji Distillery special – it’s also one of the only awamori companies with a woman founder!
Here, you’ll learn all about the production of awamori with interpretation from your bilingual guide, Junko, and enjoy an awamori tasting. See how quintessential Okinawan alcohol is made from black koji and Thai arabica rice, and learn about the similarities and differences between nihonshu and awamori.
After returning from the awamori caves, the Okinawa tour will continue with a tasting of tofuyo (a tofu dish that is fermented in awamori in the very same caves). Sample it like a fine cheese, savoring the nutty flavor and richness. This is followed by Okinawan soul food that’s perfect to conclude this culturally-rich experience.
SCHEDULE
9:45/13:15 Meet
10:00/13:30 Matsufuji Distillery
11:00/14:30 Awamori cave (tofuyo tasting is first for the afternoon tour)
12:00/15:30 Tofuyo tasting
12:45/16:15 Ginoza roadside station and pick a regional food for lunch or a snack
13:45/17:15 Disband
Inclusions
Souvenir: mini bottle of plum & brown sugar awamori
Bilingual local guide
Tour of Matsufuji Distillery with awamori tasting
Exclusive tour of the awamori cellar hidden in a limestone cave
Exclusions
Transportation to the meeting point and from the drop-off point
Food and drink at Ginoza roadside station
Meeting Point and Meeting Time
The default meeting point will be the Kin Interchange bus stop in Okinawa but it can be changed upon request if you are traveling by car or chartered taxi. More details will be shared upon booking.
Remarks
Please note that the legal drinking age in Japan is 20 years old.
It's difficult to explore Okinawa without a car due to lack of reliable public transportation, so a rental car or chartered taxi is recommended.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel your booking at least 2 days before the experience start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Experience Location
A cluster of islands to the south of Japan once belonging to the independent state of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Okinawa Prefecture is the holiday paradise with white sand beaches, a tropical climate, and healthy local cuisine known as Ryukyu Ryori.
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10 meals
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